Lock Jaw after wisdom tooth extraction

[shivani1]

I got my wisdom tooth extracted on the right side (top and bottom) 15 days ago, .... the experience was a bit traumatic, ... the bottom one took a loot of pulling to come out, ....
the dentist had put an extra piece for me to bit on so my jaw doesnt take the pressure, .......

the gums/tooth have healed fine, ... the main problem seems to be my jaw, ....
i cant seem to open my mouth, ...... the max. that i can open is 2 finger gap, ... (about 1.25 inch)
so chewing is ok, ... not a problem, ..
main task is take a bit of a sandwich...............
what should i do........
help...............

[scottma]

You may have muscle splinting due to infection or disck displacement. Try cold spraying along the masseter muscle and open your jaw. warm up the muscle and repeat stetching . 3-5times may relax the tight muscle. Seeing a tmj specialist is advised.

[Kalio1]

the same thing happened to me. Go back to your dentist! In my case, the dentist had caused the disc in my jaw to cease to function when he pulled the tooth, I had to have a surgical procedure done. Twice.
I don't have any idea if your's is the same, but I'd sure find out and soon. Go back to him, my dentist referred me to an oral surgeon who did the work. He also paid for it. Hope it gets better soon. I couldn't brush my teeth!

[shivani1]

thanks Kalio, ...
I had gone to my dentist today, .... and he has prescribed a few muscle relaxants, .....
and asked me to do hot compressions, .. he said i should check back with him in a weeks time, .....

[marcusjc]

My jaw has been locked for over 3 weeks now. I have'nt even been able to get 1 finger between my teeth. I took a antibiotic shoot and the 10 days of cypro. The sweeling went down considerable but i could still not open the mouth much more. I tried eating a burger, in which I had been craving for 3 weeks. I may have opened too wide because within the next 24 hours my face and neck swelled greatly. NMy jawed swolled up bigger than a baseball. Does anyone know whats going on? Like i said I have over 2 weeks of antibiotics and still no help. The abces started from my lower rightside wisdom tooth.

[Punkybrookester]

I am  very worried. My jaw is so stiff.. I can barley even fit a finger in my mouth, I had them removed 4 days ago. I went to the dentist today and he said my jaws were locking to do salt water, ice, and try to pull them apart bit by bit... I am trying and getting no progress. I have even started choking on my saliva from time to time (my throat is swollen on one side as well). I was told if I get any worse to go back to the dentist or to the emergency room... should I seek a second opinon now or wait? (I am in a lot of pain and sleep is almost impossible, and eating anything thicker than broth is completley out of the question.)

THank you

[scottma]

Assuming you are referring to trismus after lower wisdom teeth revoval. Trismus  may last 2-3 days after surgical procedure of lower wisdom teeth removal. If appropriate antibiotics is administered, trismus tends to resolve after 3 days.

[Punkybrookester]

I was not told it was trismus. The dentist only said that my jaws were locked. He was an oral surgeon that was flown in to do the surgery, he stayed for the post op and is now gone.
I woke up this morning and my throat is still swollen, but it is no longer a painful swollen.
I have been doing the ice and salt water, still I have no results, my mouth will open no farther than yesterday.
I am also a little concerned that he was not able to look in my mouth at all, should a follow up appointment be set?
(I am having to miss more work than I expected for this... is 5 or more days a normal recovery time??)

[scottma]

If it's not trismus, it may well be disc displacement without reduction. It's a much rarer occurence after wisdom tooth surgery. Seeing a tmj specialist to manually reduce the disc is advised.

[G160785]

i have had my wisdom teeth taken out last week..this week i visited my dentist and he told me i was devolopin trismus / lock jaw..he told me 2 try warm water& salt and chewing(slowly & carefully) sugar free gum..that would help relax the muscles in my face...